I have a very specific question. If I am looking at two basically equivalent table saws, let’s say Powermatic, and one is a 1.75 hp contractor saw with 30” fence and the other is a 1.75 hp cabinet saw with 30” fence, outside of dust collection, what advantage would I gain from the cabinet saw?

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson

I’m skipping over hybrid b/c it relates to SS and PM, and neither one carries a hybrid. They each have contractors as expensive as low-cost cabinet saws, and I was just wondering what one lost by buying the contractor.

I understand that it has sturdier components, etc., but how would it be “far more” accurate?

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson

Cabinet saws are heavier less lightly to tip over when sawing sheet goods,They usually have more HP and better fences,many have extended tables,in general they are built better,they have better resale value,most have larger tops and better miter gauges. Purchasing a cabinet saw can be the the last table saw you will every need to purchase if you get the right saw, eliminating the need to up grade as a persons experience grows.Do you have to have a cabinet saw to do good work? No! Folks can do great work without a table saw at all.

I understand that cabinet saws can have extended tables and more hp. In that case they are clearly better. I’m not comparing a 5hp 52” cabinet saw to a contractor. My question was very specific: when they have the same size tables and the same hp motors, what makes them better?

-- "Man is the only animal which devours his own, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor." ~Thomas Jefferson

You can buy a Ford Focus or a Ford Truck, they’re both going to get you from point A to point B.I say if none of the answers above make any sense, buy the contractors saw. If you looking for an answer that makes the cabinet saw 100 times better it ain’t going to happen. Both saws will make the cut, it’s the above answers that make the cabinet saw more preferable.

Do you need to move it around, to job sites? If so, get a contractor saw.

For many years a portable saw was all I had. It can be a good thing to have. Small portables can be mounted in a Rousseau Table with out feed table and Beisemeyer style fence. Stable, nice sized table, and accurate too. It gives you the benefits of a portable saw and most of the capability of a cabinet saw.

I now have both a DeWalt contractors portable saw for field work with the Rouseau set up when I need it and a Delta Unisaw in the shop. They both have their place.